Um, I went to work in the Building Services section of our local council around six years ago. I was asked atcthe interview whether I was easily shocked by "industrial language"......
Having said that, it tended to be the F word mainly, but it wasnt unknown to be dealing with a tenant on the phone while a manager laid into an errant plumber or whatever at the next desk - with full use of all sorts of language, industrial or what!
Ooh, which book is that from? I must admit that following this thread has greatly increased my cookbook library, though with none of Jack's.